476 LARID.K. 



visiter to the most nortliern of the Shetland Isles, by Law- 

 rence Edmondston, Esq., who obtained young and old birds 

 of both the species of White=winged Gulls included in this 

 work. This Glaucous Gull was first named and described by 

 Brunnich, in his Ornithologia Borealis, published in 

 1764; the bird also inhabits Iceland, and is included by 

 Faber in his Ornithology of that island. 



Mr. Edmondston thus describes the habits of this Gull as 

 observed by himself. " This species is never known to 

 breed in Shetland. It arrives in that country about the 

 middle of autumn, and leaves it towards the end of spring ; 

 and this migration appears to be completely general, at least 

 I do not remember having seen one during the whole sum- 

 mer season. In this respect it totally differs from all the 

 species of known Gull, to which, on a superficial view, it 

 might be supposed to approximate. Its favourite resorts are 

 the entrances of the more exposed bays ; or the ocean, a few 

 miles off the land, where it is often found assiduously attend- 

 ing the fishing-boats, to pick up any offals that may be 

 thrown overboard ; and it is often taken by a line and hook 

 baited with fish, when engaged in this pursuit. It is greedy 

 and voracious to a proverb ; and, when allured by carrion, 

 which seems to be its favourite food, becomes comparatively 

 indifferent to danger. It then quits the ocean and the head- 

 lands, enters the bays, and boldly ventures inland. General- 

 ly speaking it is rare ; and I have hardly above once seen 

 more than three or four individuals at one time. Occasion- 

 ally a single bird may be met with, attending a large flock of 

 its congeners, and feeding along with them. Upon these 

 occasions its peculiarity of appearance is very striking. Its 

 usual deportment is grave and silent, exhibiting little of the 

 characteristic vivacity or inquisitiveness of many of its tribe, 

 and it is roused to exertion chiefly by a sense of danger, or 

 the cravings of hunger. When it flies, it extends its wings 



